Test Bank for Nursing Today: Transition and Trends 9th Edition Updated 2025–2026 Complete Exam Questions and Answers Study Guide for Zerwekh Nursing Success

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, Chapter 01: Reality Shock

MULTIPLE CHOICE

1. A graduate nurse has been hired as a nurse at a local hospital. The new nurse is in the honeymoon phase T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T


of role transition when making which of the following statements?
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a. ―I am so nervous about being on my own as a nurse.‖
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b. ―This will be a great learning experience.‖
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c. ―I can‘t wait to have a steady paycheck.‖
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d. ―This job is perfect. I can finally do things my own way.‖
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ANS: D T




The honeymoon phase is when the student nurse sees the world of nursing as quite rosy. Often, the new
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graduate is fascinated with the thrill of arriving in the profession. Reality shock occurs when one moves
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into the workforce after several years of educational preparation. Recovery and resolution occur when the
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graduate nurse is able to laugh at encountered situations. During this time, tension decreases, perception
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increases, and the nurse is able to grow as a person.
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PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 7
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OBJ: Identify the characteristics of reality sho Nc kU. RTSOI PN:GRTeBa .l Cit yO M
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MSC: NCLEX®: Safe and effective care environment—management of care
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2. Which of the following actions by the graduate nurse is an inappropriate methodology to recover
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from reality shock?
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a. Networking c. Returning to school T T




b. Obtaining a mentor T T d. Joining a support group T T T




ANS: C T




The transition period is successfully managed when the graduate is able to evaluate the work situation
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objectively and predict effectively the actions and reactions of other staff. Nurturing the ability to see
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humor in a situation may be a first step. Returning to school is a positive step after the graduate has
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worked through role transition, has some clinical experience, and is ready to focus on a new career
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objective. Networking, obtaining a mentor, and joining a support group would give the graduate nurse an
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opportunity to talk to others experiencing the stress associated with reality shock. The nurse would
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benefit from ‗talking through‘ issues and learning how to cope.
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PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 8
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OBJ: Describe four possible resolutions for reality shock. TOP: Reality shock
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MSC: NCLEX®: Safe and effective care environment—management of care
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, 3. A nurse is trying to avoid burnout. Which of the following actions is a valid way to achieve this?
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a. Refusing to constantly work extra shifts T T T T T




b. Withdrawing from peer support group T T T T




c. ―Going native‖ T




d. Changing jobs every 6 to 12 months T T T T T T




ANS: A T




One of the quickest ways to experience burnout is to ―overwork the overtime.‖ Set priorities with your
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mental and physical health being the highest priority. Learning to say ―no‖ to extra shifts is a positive means
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of coping of avoiding burnout. ―Going native‖ is the term that describes how recent graduates begin to copy
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and identify the reality of their role transition experience by rejecting the values from nursing school and
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functioning more like a team member at their place of employment. Withdrawing from peer support groups,
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―going native,‖ and changing jobs every 6 to 12 months would increase the chance of the nurse
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experiencing burnout. The nurse should instead focus on his/her practice and seek out support from other
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nurses.

PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 9
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OBJ: Describe four possible resolutions for reality shock. TOP: Reality shock
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MSC: NCLEX®: Safe and effective care environment—management of care
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4. Which of the following statements by an undergraduate nurse describes understanding of reality shock as it applies
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to nursing?
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a. ― Reality shock is the period when a person moves from school into the workforce.
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b. ―Reality shock is the realization that practice and education are not the same.‖
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c. ―Reality shock is the period from graduation to becoming an experienced nurse.‖
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d. ―Reality shock is a transition phase that new graduates go through before changing jobs.‖
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ANS: A T




―Reality shock‖ is a term often used to describe the reaction experienced when one moves into the
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workforce after several years of educational preparation. The new graduate is caught in the situation of
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moving from a familiar, comfortable educational environment into a new role in the workforce where the
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expectations are not clearly defined or may not even be realistic. The realization that practice and nursing
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school are not the same is often associated with ―going native.‖ When nurses move from one position to
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another, they have already experienced reality shock. Becoming an experienced nurse takes time and is not
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part of the definition of reality shock.
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PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 6
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OBJ: Compare and contrast the phases of reality shock. TOP: Reality shock
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MSC: NCLEX®: Not applicable
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